Judy Canova, born Juliette Canova, was an American comedian, actress, singer, and radio personality.
19 Facts About Judy Canova
2.
Judy Canova hosted her own self-titled network radio program, a popular series broadcast from 1943 to 1955.
3.
Judy Canova was born in Starke, Florida, one of seven siblings, to Joseph Francis Canova, a businessman, and Henrietta E Canova, a singer.
4.
Judy Canova sang, yodeled, and played guitar, and she was typed as a wide-eyed likable country bumpkin, often barefoot and wearing her hair in braids, sometimes topped with a straw hat.
5.
The popularity of the Judy Canova family led to numerous performances on radio in the 1930s, and they made their Broadway theater debut in the revue Calling All Stars.
6.
Judy Canova left the movies in 1939 to star in a Broadway musical comedy, Yokel Boy, opposite Buddy Ebsen.
7.
Judy Canova quickly became Republic's leading female star, playing country gals who always blundered into trouble, in such titles as Scatterbrain, Sis Hopkins, and Joan of Ozark.
8.
Strangely, Judy Canova did not appear in Republic's film adaptation of Yokel Boy; her role was taken by Joan Davis.
9.
Judy Canova left Republic in 1943 over a salary dispute and was quickly signed by Columbia Pictures for three feature films, each released annually.
10.
In 1943, she began her own radio program, The Judy Canova Show, that ran for 12 years: first on CBS and then on NBC.
11.
Judy Canova made a smooth transition to television; she never transitioned the radio show to a standalone television series but made frequent guest appearances on The Colgate Comedy Hour, The Steve Allen Show, Matinee Theatre, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Mickey Mouse Club, The Danny Thomas Show, and other shows.
12.
Judy Canova worked on Broadway and in Vegas nightclubs through the early 1970s, touring with the revival of No, No Nanette in 1971.
13.
Judy Canova appeared as a mystery guest on the TV show What's My Line on July 18,1954.
14.
Judy Canova was next briefly married to James Ripley in 1941; the union was annulled later that year.
15.
Judy Canova lived in Palm Springs, California, from 1956 to 1959.
16.
Diana Judy Canova is an actress best known for her role as Corinne on Soap.
17.
In 1983, at age 69, Judy Canova died from cancer and her ashes were interred in the secluded Columbarium of Everlasting Light section, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
18.
Judy Canova's ashes are among those of her siblings Annie and Zeke Canova.
19.
Judy Canova is honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contribution to the film industry and a second star for her radio career.